The Knight's Reward (Border Series Book 10) by Cecelia Mecca

Author:Cecelia Mecca [Mecca, Cecelia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781946510310
Publisher: Altiora Press
Published: 2019-04-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“Sara?”

When he’d seen the two goblets, he’d imagined for a brief moment that another man had been here, in Kathryn’s chamber. Though he’d immediately dismissed the thought, the burning sensation it had spread through his chest remained. The idea couldn’t be set aside so easily.

Perhaps because she would be with another man. Someday, someone other than him would slip off that gown, discard the shift under it . . .

Nay.

Never.

“Sara brought them here.” She frowned. “In fact, that is precisely why I wanted to speak with you.”

Neill sauntered over to the table, picked up the goblets, and extended both to her. She took the one that was apparently hers and he took a sip of Sara’s wine, though it appeared untouched. Nodding to the velvet-covered chairs by the hearth, he sat in one and watched as Kathryn lowered herself into the seat across from him.

She sat with as much grace as any highborn lady. Hair streaming around her shoulders in glorious waves, her chin held high. Though he’d known from the start she was very much a lady, Neill chastised himself for harboring even a moment of doubt.

“You are not the same woman who left The Wild Boar with me,” he said, unable to keep the thought to himself.

“I am.” She took a sip of wine, her lips wrapping around the rim of the cup.

“Nay, you are the daughter of a royal messenger now.”

“Just as I was that day.”

“But you were also a serving maid, and there’s no sign of that woman left in you now. The transformation is . . . remarkable.”

He didn’t voice the other thoughts that whirled around his head. Ones he should not be having, lest he forget his role in this dangerous game played by the border lords.

“’Tis the problem, I suppose,” she said with another sip from her goblet. “I know not who I am.”

The red wine slipped down his throat, a welcome companion in an impossible situation.

“I am so grateful for Magge and what she has done for me. She allowed me to remain close to the border, kept me safe. And yet . . .”

“And yet, here you are.”

“I’ve no choice but to accept this may be my new life for some time.”

Neill stood and made his way to the pitcher of wine. Filling both of their goblets, though hers was not yet empty, he thought about her words. The decision was easy, and immediate. As sure as he knew he was the son of Sir Thomas Waryn, Lord of Bristol Manor, he would not bring Kathryn back to that place. She was meant to be here.

“You could stay here.”

“Here?”

“At Kenshire. My brother would protect you. And you would still be close to the border.”

I would protect you. God, this woman was in his blood.

“Nay, I could not,” Kathryn said, dismissing the possibility at once. “Neill, I wanted to tell you . . . Sara seems to have some odd notions of our relationship.”

“Odd?”

“For some reason, it appears she’s taken it upon herself to—” She coughed.

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